Scene: The 14 contingents
for the 2nd
Cobra International Dragon Boat Competition in Dauis, Bohol.
Seen: Spotted in Bohol
last week was Journey’s lead singer Arnel Pineda. Now sporting short hair,
Arnel was mobbed by fans at the Loboc River.
Scene: From Fiel Angeli
Araoarao-Gabin, City Information Officer, on Saulog festival: The City Government of
Tagbilaran and the Cathedral Parish of Saint Joseph the Worker are embarking on
collaborative efforts for this year’s celebration of the feast of Saint Joseph
the Worker on May 1 dubbed “Pit Senor San Jose! Viva San Jose! Viva Tagbilaran!”
Starting last Monday, April 22 with the daily novena at 4:30 p.m., followed by
a holy mass at 5:30 p.m. at the
Cathedral and the nightly activities at 7:30 p.m. at the Tagbilaran Port, the
activities are aimed at reviving, preserving and promoting the city’s
significant tradition and unique cultural heritage, in cognizance with
Executive Order No. 2 Series of 2013 which created the City Council for Culture
and the Arts.
On
April 29, from 2 to 6 p.m., the statues of Saint Joseph, Mother Mary and Santo
Nino comprising the Holy Family will be featured during the fluvial procession
from Manga Port to Sitio Ubos, Poblacion I.
On
April 30, the first-ever “Saulog Tagbilaran,” a religion-based cultural
activity, bringing to the fore the life of Saint Joseph, the City’s patron
saint, as a loving father and devoted worker and the local devotees’ way of
paying homage and thanksgiving. The streetdancing also intends to drumbeat the
250th anniversary of the Cathedral Parish of Saint Joseph the Worker in 2017.
The 9 contingents - Bool, Booy, Cabawan, Cogon, Manga, Mansasa, Poblacion I,
Poblacion 2 and Ubujan - shall assemble along the Old City Hall at 12 noon. The
streetdancing shall kick off at 1:00 p.m., turning left at C. Gallares Street,
turning right at B. Inting Street, proceeding right to CPG Avenue along City
Square, turning right at J.S. Torralba near Plaza Rizal, making a left turn at
E. Sarmiento fronting the Cathedral, turning left at J. A. Clarin Street
leading towards the Tagbilaran City Hall Compound.
Hapit
na jud ang fiesta sa Tagbilaran (May 1), the opening salvo of the month-long
fiesta season of Bohol.
Scene: From erstwhile
Tubigon’s Queen of All Media Raymund Delgado: Anyag 2008 Clarice Radoc has a very huge chance of winning the crown
however her tight schedule couldnt warrant the requirements and demands of
joining a provincial pageant. As of Anyag 2011 Lori Geisha Cabrera , we are
still subjecting her to some further enhancing trainings that would further
bring out the best in her and mold her to become more competitive in the
provincial level. Since the previous year when I was connected with the
University of San Jose Recoletos as a full time professor , I only focus on
handling one committee in Anyag and that is the Committee on Seminars,
Trainings and Workshops to bring out the best in all our candidates and reserve
beauty queens and I do see the value of a good education as a foundation for
success in any endeavors. Even, Miss Teen Bohol 2012 Thea Rizaldo was molded by
the A-List Beauty and Personality Academy, which is the basic education arm of
the Anyag sa Tubigon.
Until this present
moment in time, we at Anyag envisions of producing globally competitive and
empowered beauty queens which would not only excel in the municipal level but
also at the national and international levels. Though I’m no longer connected
with the Local Government Unit of Tubigon I still take an active role and part
in the committee since I do see that this is my way of giving back to the
community who gave me my identity as a Tubignon.
(Note:
The Anyag sa Tubigon 2013 is on May
10 with special guest Daniel Padilla. Tickets are at Php300 (Blue), Php500
(Orange) and Php 1,000 (Fuschia). Visit or call Tubigon Tourism Office at (038)
508-8496.)
***
The
flamboyant chef and food connoisseur Anthony Bourdain of No
Reservations food tripping in America made me relish in my
head those gustatory adventures I went through vacationing in the US.
Like
music, food does
bring people together. My bonding moments with friends in the US revolve
around anything edible-- that there are plenty to eat and thank God for-- and you
can’t feel the economy is down.
Here’s
the tip: To enjoy your stay in the land of milk and honey that is America,
never convert. I stopped whining about how I have to shell out $2 for a bottle
of cranberry juice or Hershey’s chocolate when I can get it here for a
reasonable price.
 |
| Food tripping in the US. Yours truly with (clockwise) Lorenzo and Richel Galaura, Mikey and his Thai friend Kevin and Alot and Babat Bagotchay. |
The
King’s Buffet in Hollywood was the first restaurant I had bonding moment with a
Boholano family. Lorenzo Galaura (from Jagna town), his wife Richel and
daughter Loraine invited me for a dinner. Lorenzo is a nurse and a tennis
enthusiast. At 13, Loraine, who stands 5”5”, is an A+ student in a private
school in LA and a potential beauty queen in the future. After dinner, the Galaura
family brought me to The Grove for another bonding moment.
My
real bonding with US-based Boholano socialite Mikey Gatal was the Thai (Thai
Restaurant in Hollywood) and Korean (Haus of Desserts) cuisines. Since Mikey
has a Thai friend, he loves to introduce Thai food that when TV/concert-producer Amy
Almirol had to see us, we ended at the Thai restaurant in downtown LA).
My
bonding with RN and make-up artist Rey Reformina was the Chinese cuisine. He brought
me to Regent Chinese restaurant near the famous Union Station.
My
bonding food with Jocelyn Oppus, Babat Malacay and Jinky Jane Labrador were
Burger King, Jollibee, McDonalds and The Pantry. When hunger strikes you on the
road, turn to Jollibee Drive Thru.
The
send-off dinner with Miss BodyShots International 2013 Janelle Logrono, Lorenzo
and Richel Galaura, Alot and Babat Bagotchay, Mikey and Rey was held at the at
the Ganda Thai Restaurant.
After
my vacation, I’m gaining weight. I need to go on a diet…so I thought…
As
promised, we showed up with “empty stomachs” early Tuesday noon at Loboc
Riverwatch (the “Floating Resto to the Stars,” you will know why when you will
visit their booth at the Loboc River Complex) of Tessie Labunog-Sumampong. “We”
included Liza Macalandag of Lifestyle Bohol, my nephew Jhelmar Jala and yours
truly.
The
next time you visit the famous Loboc River (the River of Life), you can indulge
yourself in authentic Boholano cuisine at the Loboc Riverwatch. It is the only
floating restaurant which offers a wide array of mouth-watering traditional
Boholano cuisine.
As
most people must know by now, years ago Tessie was hired to manage a floating
restaurant. When she was given the opportunity to run her own floating
restaurant, Tessie’s imagination was activated. Voila, a few weeks later she
put up her own floating restaurant, the Loboc Riverwatch.
Tessie
and her Loboc Riverwatch team cooked “borrowed” foods. They served the same
menu with other floating restaurants. So, Tessie gave it a try last April when
guests started asking for Boholano cuisine and it has been doing good business
since then.
 |
| Tessie Labunog-Sumampong |
“Most
of the restaurants here do not serve the Boholano cuisine, it's time to show to
them what we have,” said Tessie. “I am not afraid of change. I make it sure I
am always open to new challenges and ready for discoveries.”
On
Tessie’s menu: Pancit bisaya, piniritong manok, humbang baboy, kusahos, lauja,
manok hinalang, humbang nangka, ensaladang
talong, guso salad, spicy crab, escabeche, inon-on, shrimps and crabs, puto
cheese, manga with uyap, native kakanin, cathy’s cuchinta, bibingka’s
special, fruits in season and dol-dol.
And
the visitors embraced her Bol-anon cuisine with gusto.
The classic Filipino pork dish, the humba (Visayan answer to adobo
from the North) and the kusahos de Loboc (sun dried carabeef strips) are
the best sellers.
“Whether cooking food or managing the floating
restaurant, everything should be done with love and passion,” said Tessie.
Tessie’s
Boholano cuisine at the floating restaurant is at P350 per person (just add 50
pesos for the municipal fee) and it is “eat all you can.” The price is worth it
because she never scrimps on ingredients.
Try
to imagine: They serve a buffet lunch. The musician is very entertaining. The
river cruise is relaxing.
Riding
at Loboc Riverwatch will also double as charity work for you since she helps
public schools in Loboc (Bartolome Doria Elem. School and Tambis Elem. School
in Calunasan Norte).
And
so how do I rate that Boholano cuisine of Tessie’s Loboc Riverwatch? It’s,
burp, filling.
 | ||
| The mouth-watering traditional Boholano cuisine at the Loboc Riverwatch Floating Restaurant, the Floating Resto to the Stars. |
(Note:
Loboc Riverwatch: Tel. No: (038) - 537–9460, (038) -537–9460; Mobile: +63918 -
510 – 4032/ +63917- 306–0010/+63917-382–2254; Email: lobocriverwatch@gmail.com)
***
Thanks
for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at
leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.
